PARKER LEADS BY ONE WITH 1-OVER-PAR 73 IN RHODE ISLAND Turner following closely with opening-round 74 at Medicus Preseason Junior at Rhode Island

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. -Brandon Parker of Auburn, Mass., earned the first-round lead after shooting a 1-over-par 73 Saturday at the first round of the Medicus Preseason Junior at Rhode Island. Michael Turner of Baden, Pa., is a close second after carding a 2-over-par 74.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Medicus Preseason Junior at Rhode Island is being held at Newport National Golf Club in Middletown, R.I. Part of the Medicus Preseason/Postseason Junior Series, the Medicus Preseason Junior at Rhode Island is a 36-hole stroke play event and consists of 84 boys, ages 12-18, from 17 states and Canada. The par-72 golf course is playing to 6,654 yards for the boys.

Parker, despite the extremely windy conditions, carded five birdies to propel himself to a one-shot first-round lead.

“I really like the greens and the way they roll,” said Parker. “It was hard to hit the greens. I have to keep my iron shots down.”

Parker birdied his last hole of the day to finish alone in first place.

Turner carded four first-round birdies to put himself one-shot back with an opening-round 74. He also birdied his last hole of the day to finish in second place alone.

“It was hard to stay stable over my putts,” said Turner.

Trevor Fiedler of Endicott, N.Y., Ryan Gay of Gardiner, Maine, and Curtis Loop of New Canaan, Conn., are tied for third at 75. Matt Campbell of Rome, N.Y., and David Zhang of South Glastonbury, Conn., are tied for sixth at 76. Matt Lynch of Foxborough, Mass., Tony Spirakis of Wilmington, N.C., and Peter Ruymann of Sudbury, Mass., round out the top 10 with matching 78's.

The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The AJGA, the largest Association of its kind, has an annual junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 50 states and 30 foreign countries.

The Medicus Preseason/Postseason Series is designed for new AJGA members or members who have yet to play in an AJGA event. The series provides an opportunity for members to gain status in Performance Based Entry, which in turn will increase their ability to play in future AJGA events.

Titleist, the AJGA's National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association's success since 1989. Rolex Watch USA, which is in its third decade of support, became the inaugural AJGA Premier Partner in 2004.

AJGA alumni have risen to the top of amateur, collegiate and professional golf. More than 160 former AJGA juniors currently play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have compiles more than 300 wins. AJGA alumni include Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Davis Love III, Mike Weir, Charles Howell III, Jim Furyk, Grace Park, Cristie Kerr, Candie Kung and Paula Creamer.

Final-round tee times begin at 8 a.m. Sunday off Nos. 1 and 10 tees at Newport National Golf Club. For more information on the Medicus Preseason Junior at Rhode Island, please contact Tournament Director Greg Smith at (678) 315-3446.

Mission Statement

The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf.